I'm
Emma Priesendorf

Historian + Educator + Graduate Student

Hello there! My name is Emma Priesendorf, and I am a graduate student in History at the University of Missouri Kansas City. I am also an experienced public history educator with 8+ years of non-profit leadership experience and a proven track record of creating and managing dynamic projects and programs. My skill set includes public speaking, mentoring, event planning, and social media, as well as the communication skills to successfully manage a 25-person council.

RU Magazine

History Matters: An Undergraduate Journal of Historical Research

The senior capstone from my bachelor's degree was a paper on the 14th century Swiss-German alchemist, Paracelsus. It was subsequently published in History Matters: an Undergraduate Journal of Historical Research.

Work Experience

Individual Giving Specialist

• Manage the Museum's membership program and young friends group, the Modernists
• Oversee the Walk of Honor commemorative brick program and biannual dedication ceremonies
• Direct, write and implement individual giving and direct mail annual fund campaigns
• Increase support from local and expanded community through membership, donor engagement and commemorative opportunities
• Train and supervise Development department interns

Education Coordinator, Field Trips and Programs

• Researched, wrote, and implemented daily public tours of American Museum of Natural History exhibitions
• Created hands-on artifact program, Fossils at Your Fingertips
• Wrote and designed educational scavenger hunts for the Great Hall
• Booked and facilitated field trips for K-12
• Trained volunteers and staff on interpretive education
• Facilitated experiential learning environment for children and adults in the Discovery Room

Fall 2015

Greenlease Library

Archives Intern

• Processed and imposed an intellectual order on a collection of legacy files
• Utilized ArchiveSpace software to create a finding aid for the collection
• Curated a visual library display using archives materials

Spring 2015

National WWI Museum & Memorial

Education Intern

• Developed a 2-hour tour with adaptations for school and adult guests
• Conducted extensive research on World War I to assist with events
• Assisted with the creation and implementation of interactive Lessons of Liberty museum curriculum for high school students
• Participated in educational Hands on History artifact work with museum patrons

Awards

Senior Gold Medal

Rockhurst University 2015

Awarded annually to the highest-ranging senior in graduating class.

Hugh M. Owens Prize in History

Rockhurst University 2015

The Hugh M. Owens Prize in History annually recognizes a student who excels in the study of history as determined by the History Department.

Outstanding Contribution to the College

Metropolitan Community College-Longview 2013

Crystal M. Field Award for Writing

Metropolitan Community College-Longview 2013

Professional Memberships

My Work

Foundations: How Architecture Tells the Story of a Growing University

Displays

Foundations: How Architecture Tells the Story of a Growing University

Displays

Location

Kansas City, MO

Foundations was the result of my internship in the archives at Greenlease Library at Rockhurst University. This library display was researched and curated using material from the archives in the fall of 2015.

Fossils at Your Fingertips

Education

Fossils at Your Fingertips

Education

Location

Overland Park, KS

Fossils at Your Fingertips was a hands-on artifact program I created for the Museum at Prairiefire education department. Kids and adults could touch, hold, and ask questions about fossils such as trilobites, shark teeth, dinosaur claws, and more.

The Modernists – curator talks

Education Event Planning

The Modernists – curator talks

Education Event Planning

Location

Kansas City, MO

During my time as Individual Giving Specialist at the National WWI Museum and Memorial, I oversaw the planning for dozens of events for The Modernists, the young friends membership, including curator talks like this one, billed as Chill with the Curator.

The Modern Gala

Event Planning Fundraising

The Modern Gala

Event Planning Fundraising

Location

Kansas City, MO

As administrator of The Modernists, the young friends of the National WWI Museum & Memorial, I oversaw the planning, marketing, budgeting, and execution of The Modern Gala, an annual fundraising gala.

Gallery Tours

Education Public Speaking

Gallery Tours

Education Public Speaking

Client

Doctor Barry

Project

Features Photography

Custom title

Custom description

In my years of museum work, I’ve given hundreds of tours to diverse groups of people, from pre-schoolers to neuroscientists, on topics as varied as dinosaur evolution, the human brain, the history of horses, and World War I.